The legal battle between Apple and OpenAI has escalated into something resembling a spy novel. In a 41-page lawsuit filed by Apple, the tech giant describes an extensive corporate espionage campaign allegedly orchestrated by former employees who jumped ship to OpenAI. The case centers on Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu, two former staffers accused of a "pattern of theft" involving some of Apple's most valuable intellectual assets.

The 'Trojan Horse' and the Authentication Bug

According to Apple, Chang Liu, who joined OpenAI in January 2026, failed to return his work-issued laptop and exploited a rare, previously unknown authentication bug to breach Apple’s corporate network. The lawsuit cites messages where Liu allegedly wrote, “LOL, I found out I can access the [network storage], so funny,” while downloading dozens of confidential files regarding unreleased products and engineering specifications.

Furthermore, Apple alleges that Liu maintained a mole within the company: Yu-Ting “Alyssa” Peng. For four months, Peng reportedly provided Liu with a steady stream of trade secrets before eventually joining him at OpenAI. Liu allegedly coached her on how to copy sensitive data without triggering security alerts.

Recruiting as a Front for Espionage

Tang Yew Tan, who previously oversaw product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, is accused of using OpenAI’s hiring process to mine information. Apple claims Tan asked job candidates to bring in CAD designs and prototypes and instructed new hires to hide their departure for OpenAI so they could remain at Apple as long as possible to gather intelligence.

  • OpenAI has reportedly hired approximately 400 former Apple employees.
  • The lawsuit includes io, an AI hardware startup co-founded by Jony Ive and acquired by OpenAI in 2025.
  • Apple claims OpenAI contacted its suppliers, misleading them into using proprietary metal-finishing techniques.

OpenAI told Fortune it has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets” and is currently reviewing the filing. However, Apple warns that these allegations are merely the “tip of the iceberg,” with more evidence expected to emerge during the discovery process.